Diamond Panthers sweep Spalding

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham-Southern (19-20) outscored Spalding University (8-25) 19-5 and pounded out 30 hits in a doubleheader sweep by the scores of 11-1 and 8-4 on Sunday at Striplin Field.

The Panthers rallied from a 3-1 deficit, scoring four runs in the fifth inning with two outs on their way to an 8-4 win in the nightcap. Brandon Ricco and Bryan Higginbotham had RBI singles and Clay Jones doubled in another run to highlight the inning and give the Panthers a 5-3 lead.

Spalding plated a run in the sixth to make cut the deficit to 5-4 before BSC added three runs in the sixth to equal the final margin of victory. Ricco and J.D. Hulse had RBI singles and another run crossed on wild pitch in the inning.

Drew Morris, who was honored before the game on senior day, started on the mound, going 2 2/3 innings with a strikeout. Patrick Martin, 1-2, picked up the win in relief of Morris, allowing no runs on one hit with two strikeouts. Anthony Bianchi tossed the final two innings to pick up his first save. Brandon Farmer, 0-4, took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits with two strikeouts for the Eagles.

In game one, Birmingham-Southern scored a run in the first and third innings to hold a 2-1 lead into the fourth inning. The Panthers broke open the game with four in the fourth and three in the fifth and then added one in the seventh and eighth to end the game due to the NCAA 10-run rule.

Darby Weppner led BSC at the plate with four hits and an RBI. Sam Hill, J.D. Hulse and Drew Leachman followed with three hits and two RBI. Rand Hutchison and Ricco had two hits and an RBI.

Drew Crofton, 4-1, registered the win allowing one run on five hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Brooks Webb and Cole Bahakel pitched an inning to finish close out the game. Jacob Wardrip, 1-5, went the distance for Spalding allowing 11 runs on 20 hits with two strikeouts.

The Panthers close out the 2008 season on Wednesday with a doubleheader against Methodist College at 12:30 p.m.